What Are Different Types of Internal Organ Damage?
Vehicle collisions, assaults, slip and falls, and several other traumatic events can severely injure a victim by damaging their organs and other bodily structures. Common types of internal organ damage include:
- Head trauma: Traumatic brain injuries, or TBI’s, are common in any accident that involves a blow to the head. Victims may suffer short-term and long-term damage, ranging from memory loss, balance, and even cognitive functions.
- Fractured ribs: Car accidents and falls can lead to a broken rib, which is damaging on its own, but if the fractured bone punctures the lungs, a victim may be looking at a serious medical condition. The lung can collapse, making it difficult to breathe and causing a sharp pain in the chest or shoulder.
- Ruptured spleen: Blunt force trauma can cause the spleen to rupture, which, in most cases, must be removed for the patient to recover. Symptoms of a damaged spleen include low blood pressure, weak pulse, internal bleeding, and pain in the upper left abdominal area, which may extend to the shoulder.
- Kidney damage: Trauma to the abdomen can cause the kidney to bruise, suffer internal bleeding, or tear. All of these injuries can be identified via blood in the urine.
- Ruptured abdominal aorta: The abdominal aorta is a portion of the largest artery running through the abdomen. It supplies the abdominal organs, pelvic organs, and legs with oxygenated blood. If you slam against a steering wheel or strike your chest in a fall, the abdominal aorta can rupture, which can lead to fatal blood loss.
- Injured bowels: The intestines make up a large portion of your abdomen, which means they can suffer blunt force trauma in an accident or puncture wounds in an assault. Even a seatbelt can cause bowel damage if the accident is traumatic enough. Symptoms of injured bowels include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, muscle tenderness, and shock.
- Damaged liver: In addition to the kidneys, the liver is also at risk of suffering blunt force trauma. Symptoms may include a bloated abdomen, weak pulse, and pain in the upper right abdominal area.
Any one of these injuries can be life-threatening if not treated immediately, which is why you should get a full medical review after an accident. If you are still experiencing symptoms in the days following your first check-up, contact your doctor to ensure nothing was missed. Some injuries take longer to present themselves and require a thorough medical review.
Over $50M Recovered in the Past Seven Years
At the Tenge Law Firm, LLC, our goal is to achieve the best possible result for our clients as soon as possible. Each case and each client is different, so we work directly with clients to meet their needs for medical care and personal situations. We have enjoyed great success, with exceedingly high client satisfaction, using this approach.
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$3,250,000 Rollover auto accident involving defective roof and serious injuries
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$1,475,000 Auto accident with head, neck and back injuries
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$950,000 Car accident with brain injury and orthopedic injuries
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$750,000 Policy Limits – Low speed auto accident leading to minor stroke
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$533,000 Trial Verdict - Client hit by airborne patio umbrella with facial scar and concussion.
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$450,000 Pedestrian hit by car
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$300,000 Four-car accident resulting in vertebral fracture and facial injuries
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$200,000 Auto accident with facial injuries
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$120,000 Slip-and-fall at fast food restaurant
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Brenda was my attorney. She was amazing, helped me through the whole process. Definitely made it a stress-free experience, especially after going through something so traumatic! Was extremely attentive and always kept me updated on how my case was going! I would 1000% recommend them to everyone and anyone!! THANK YOU SO MUCH!
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Paige and Nina were a delight to work with. They were extremely responsive and answered my questions very well. They made me feel like I was in good hands and could trust them!
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Tenge Law Firm helped me out when I was in a accident that involved my whole family. They were great and fast with the entire process, and were awesome at keeping me updated throughout the entire process. Would highly recommend to anyone!!
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I highly recommend this law firm! They take care of everything in a timely manner & alleviate any harassment while you recover from injuries. Everyone is extremely nice & very efficient...if you need an attorney, Tenge Law is the place to go!
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The Impact of an Internal Injury
Internal damage cannot be walked off or recovered from easily. In most cases, doctors may have to conduct multiple tests to determine the extent of the damage, including CT scans and MRI’s. Once they have identified the damaged organ, they may suggest several avenues of treatment. In some cases, such as with internal bleeding, you may need a blood transfusion and intravenous medication to stabilize your blood pressure. More severe damage may require surgery to repair any tears.
Damaged organs can also have long-term consequences. If your heart or lungs are impaired, you may have to avoid exercising and work for some time to ensure they fully recover, or altogether if the strain puts you at risk for further trauma. In addition, your doctor may prescribe medication to stabilize the chemicals in your body and aid your organs in their regular functions. This can be expensive, especially if you also required an organ transplant, which may decrease your life expectancy.
At the end of the day, internal organ damage can completely change your life, leading to extensive medical bills and years of treatment. If your injuries were caused by someone else’s negligence, you should not pass up the chance to file a claim against them.
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When our clients are happy, they say so. Whether we’re being described for how well we communicate, our responsiveness, or the quality of our service, we’re consistently rated 5.0 out of 5.0 by those we represent.
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As an industry leader in the field of personal injury, we're proud to maintain a superb 10.0 out of 10.0 rating on AVVO.com, have a preeminent AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell, and have recently been awarded Client Champion Platinum status from Lawyers.com.
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Results
In the last ten years, we've recovered $50 million on behalf of our clients. Our motto is simple - You do what you need to do physically recover, and we'll handle the rest.
Legal Representation After Serious Injuries
At the Tenge Law Firm, LLC, our team offers each client more than just the legal aid they need to file a claim for damages. We also get clients in contact with professional medical services to get proper treatment, review their finances to ensure their credit is protected, deal with their own insurance policies, and provide consistent and reliable communication throughout the whole process. Because we only accept a limited number of cases at a time, you will receive personalized legal advice from our lead attorney, J. Todd Tenge.
To get in touch with an experienced and skilled Boulder internal organ damage attorney, call (303) 219-7377.